by Barbara Hodgson

Booklist: 'Hodgson's magnificently illustrated history of the granddaddy of illicit drugs is masterfully done, very informative. Entertaining, too, which figures, since it is mostly about getting high--the hows, whys, and whose-fault-it-is-it-anyways. Alternately glorified and condemned for its psychoactive applications, the opium poppy is now the focus of eradication research, lately looking into genetic warfare against it. What inspires such animus from the minions of overwhelming decency? Opium is 'one of the most addictive and debilitating substances on earth,' Hodgson writes, and its introduction in the West ushered in a taste for psychic adventure that still irritates prurient prudes. 'The focus here,' she continues, 'is on the wealth of imagesand literature celebrating or condemning this fabled drug, and on the writers, artists and photographers who have tried to capture the essence of opium's allure.' That focus pays off with a delightful little book that may not fit in a D.A.R.E. collection but will be welcome in most others.

A reader: 'While not very wordy, the beauty of this book lies in its wonderful photographs, sketches, paintings, engravings, and other artwork featuring opium related scenes and paraphernalia. This book is also a great jumping point for more opium related reading of all types. The "Writer's Muse" chapter in particular offers a comprehensive overview of written works throughout history and the world which feature opium as their theme. All the works mentioned are neatly categorized by type in the bibliography at the end. A wonderful resource.'

Hardcover - 160 pages